cloth pads

[astraluna.livejournal.com]

Okay ladies, those of you that make and/or use cloth pads, I have a question.

I just made a set of five out of some really cute flannel (I get to bleed on moons and butterflies!), and they're super comfy. I got the pattern from the back of a zine I got a lil while ago... anyway, the pattern said I could make liners out of two pieces of the same flannel sewn together. Well, my period is really heavy (for the third effing day in a row..) and the cloth pads just can't handle it. I'm thinking I need a more absorbent liner. Does anyone have any suggestions? Is there some way I should re-design the pad to make it work better?

Comments

[inanna.livejournal.com]

When i make mine i use unbleached cotton batting for the "filling" of my pads. i use 2 layers of the flannel around 2-3 layers of the cotton batting. Occasionally i will bleed through - so i have started making an "under pad"... i got the same stuff they use for changing pads (for babies) - it is a soft, waterproof fabric. i made a pad a little larger (longer/wider, not fatter as it isn't layered) than my cloth pads and i wear that between the pad and my undies... does wonders to save them. :) i have also heard of using waterproof fabric as the outer layer of the pad itself (so waterproof fabric, batting, flannel), but i think that makes them too thick and stiff.... and since i don't bleed through them all the time, it is overkill... a couple waterproof liners will last for a lot of pads.

Good luck!

[ewtikins.livejournal.com]

It really depends which pattern you are using, and the flannel - try to check if the flannel is actually 100% cotton (a lot of it these days is 50% polyester, which is fine, but polyester is NOT absorbent), and if it is 'brushed' on both sides (both sides should be fluffy and fuzzy, not just one side). Old men's winter shirts, the lumberjack ones, from second hand shops seem to be nearly perfect.

The pattern I use has a removeable insert - on heavy days I just use a thicker insert, which I make by taking flannel cloth and folding it many times so I end up with four to six layers of cloth. That, in addition to the two or three layers in the pad itself, seems to be enough for even my heavy days. You could also use an ordinary cotton facecloth to do this, although it will probably be stained.

The pattern here (http://bloodsisters.org/bloodsisters/images/makepads.pdf) is very similar to the one I use.

[nelsolidarida.livejournal.com]

One of my experimental jamrag designs involves sewing a pocket at either end of the pad (on the side which is against your pants, not your skin!) to hold a plastic liner made from cut-up supermarket bags. I figured it was a good way of using up the surplus bags that clutter my living space. I havent used it enough to judge how well it works, but i know that you don't feel the plastic so there doesnt seem to be anything to lose.

[kittingrrl.livejournal.com]

I have made liners out of old terry cloth towels (you can do as many layers as you like, I like 3!) and also flannel back baby (waterproof) change pads. They are really cheap, but you need to sew/serge around the edge to keep 'em together. I LOVE my cloth pads!!